Photos: Kids reading to shelter cats make people across the globe smile

A collection of photographs of children reading to shelter cats is melting hearts throughout the world. In one image a boy is fully absorbed in his book with a big orange cat curled up under his arm, while in another a girl is attempting to read yet instead she’s giggling hysterically as a playful feline attacks her hair.

The person behind these touching images that are popping up all over Facebook and Twitter is Christi Rodriguez whose the volunteer coordinator at the Animal Rescue League of Burkes County, an animal shelter in Birds Borro, Penn., an hour outside Philadelphia.

Rodriguez is also the mother of six children and she has one son who has always struggled with reading. To help him build confidence and improve his comprehension she has him read to the cats in the shelter.

“He loves it because the cats aren’t judging how well he does,” Rodriguez says.

Last summer, Rodriguez introduced the Books Buddies program where kids can drop by to read to the cats. They bring their own books or use ones donated by the community.

“You have to make it as accessible and convenient as possible so kids can stop by at any time,” says Rodriguez, who understand that family’s have busy lives.

About 30 to 40 kids read at the shelter each month and she often gets Girl Scout troops and homeschooling groups as well. Rodriguez says the program is a win-win for both the cats and kids. The children practice reading and the cats are socialized.

To promote the program, Rodriguez posted some images on the website to promote the program. Those were posted on Reddit and over the past several days the media has picked up on the utter cuteness of the photos. Rodriguez says her shelter is medium-size, taking in 10,000 animals a year compared to the Philadelphia shelter that takes in 35,000, so she’s overwhelmed by the attention.

“The phone is ringing off the hook,” Rodriguez says. “The response is mind-boggling. I’ve heard from people in Canada and a newspaper in Taiwan. People are calling with questions like, ‘Do you know if there’s a similar program in Omaha, Nebraska?’ I’ve been contacted by ‘Good Morning America.'”

Rodgriquez is thrilled by the attention as she knows that similar programs will be popping up across the country and throughout the world.

See more photos in the gallery below.

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Photos: Kids reading to shelter cats make people across the globe smile